Apparatus for organizing and supporting office supplies

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an apparatus for organizing and supporting office supplies. The apparatus is positionable on a top surface of a filing cabinet and includes organizational structure for organizing and supporting office supplies and a plurality of retaining members extending below the top surface of the filing cabinet to resist movement of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the filing cabinet.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for organizing and supporting office supplies and, more particularly, to such an apparatus that is positionable on top of a filing cabinet.

[0002] Several types of accessories exist that organize and/or support office supplies. Most of these accessories are placed on desk tops or in desk drawers. These accessories often occupy valuable work or storage space, and the desk top accessories are susceptible to sliding off the desk.

SUMMARY

[0003] The invention provides an apparatus for organizing and supporting office supplies. The apparatus is positionable on a top surface of a filing cabinet and includes organizational structure for organizing and supporting office supplies and a plurality of retaining members extending below the top surface of the filing cabinet to resist movement of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the filing cabinet.

[0004] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first construction of an apparatus for organizing and supporting office supplies embodying the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a cross-section view along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second construction of the apparatus.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus in FIG. 5.

[0011]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third construction of the apparatus.

[0012]FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 7.

[0013]FIG. 9 is perspective view of a fourth construction of the apparatus.

[0014]FIG. 10 is a side view of the apparatus in FIG. 9.

[0015]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fifth construction of the apparatus.

[0016]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a sixth construction of the apparatus.

[0017] Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and constructions and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The use of “consisting of” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter. The use of letters to identify elements of a method or process is simply for identification and is not meant to indicate that the elements should be performed in a particular order.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] FIGS. 1-12 illustrate an apparatus 20 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24. The apparatus 20 is positionable on a top surface 28 of a filing cabinet 32, and includes organizational structure 36 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24. The term “office supplies” as used herein and in the appended claims means any equipment, including without limitation paper clips, rubber bands, any writing utensils, erasers, tape, business cards, scissors, paper, files, compact discs, cassette tapes, computer disks, books, telephones, printers, computers, fax machines, scanners, copiers, which can be or are found in an office.

[0019] The apparatus 20 also includes a plurality of retaining members 40 that extend below the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32. Two of the plurality of retaining members 40 are engageable with side surfaces 44 of the filing cabinet 32 and a third of the plurality of retaining members 40 is engageable with a rear surface 48 of the filing cabinet 32. The apparatus 20 may include a fourth of the plurality of retaining members 40 that depends in front of the filing cabinet 32 and is engageable with a front surface 52 of the filing cabinet 32, provided the fourth retaining member 40 does not interfere with the top sliding drawer of the filing cabinet 32. The plurality of retaining members 40 resist movement of the apparatus 20 in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32. In other words, the plurality of retaining members 40 can prevent the apparatus 20 from being bumped off or sliding off the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32.

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a first construction of the apparatus 20 is illustrated. The organizational structure 36 includes a support surface 56 on which office supplies 24 are positionable and a raised lip 60 that can prevent the office supplies 24 from sliding off of the support surface 56. In this construction, the apparatus 20 is adapted to support a printer, fax machine, scanner, or copier. The organizational structure 36 also includes cord managing apertures 64 that permit cords (not shown) (e.g., from a computer, printer, fax machine, scanner, copier or other electronic device) to pass through the apparatus 20. The retaining members 40 include an interface surface 68 that contacts the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 to provide stability to the apparatus 20. The retaining members 40 also include an inner wall 72, an outer wall 76 and a plurality of ribs 80 extending between the inner and outer walls 72, 76.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second construction of the apparatus 20 is illustrated. The organizational structure 36 includes a plurality of trays 84 that are stackable upon each other and on the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32. Each of the trays 84 includes a support surface 88 for supporting office supplies 24 (e.g., paper or files), a plurality of side projections 92 and a rear projection 96. The side and rear projections 92, 96 prevent the office supplies 24 from sliding off of the support surface 88 toward the sides and rear, respectively, of the filing cabinet 32. The side projections 92 extend upward from the support surface 88 and the rear projection 96 extends both upward and downward from the support surface 88. The rear projection 96 is engageable with rear projections 96 from other stacked trays 84 to provide stability to the apparatus 20. Each retaining member 40 includes an interface surface 100 that contacts either the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 or the support surface 88 of another tray 84 (depending whether the tray 84 is stacked on the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 or on top of another tray 84, respectively) to provide stability to the apparatus 20.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a third construction of the apparatus 20 is illustrated. The organizational structure 36 in the third construction includes a first support surface 104 and a second support surface 108. The first support surface 104 is narrower than the second support surface 108 and supports office supplies 24 (e.g., compact discs or cassette tapes). The second support surface 108 is slanted downward toward the rear of the apparatus 20 to prevent office supplies 24 (e.g., books or binders) from sliding toward the front of the apparatus 20. A bumper 112 extends upward with respect to the second support surface 108 and resists office supplies 24 from sliding off the rear of the apparatus 20. The organizational structure 36 also includes a first set of uprights 116 and a second set of uprights 120 that operate in combination with the first support surface 104 and the second support surface 108, respectively, to support the office supplies 24. The first and second sets of uprights 116, 120 are incrementally slideable along a first track 124 and a second track 128, respectively. Alternatively, the uprights 116, 120 may be spring biased to slide together along the tracks 124, 128, respectively. The apparatus 20 also includes an interface surface 132 that contacts the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 to provide stability to the apparatus 20.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a fourth construction of the apparatus 20 is illustrated. The organizational structure 36 in the fourth construction includes a plurality of support ribs 136 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24 (e.g., cassette tapes, compact discs and computer disks). The organizational structure 36 also includes a plurality of upright attachments 140 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24 (e.g., paper, files and books). The upright attachments 140 include projections 144 that are selectively insertable into apertures 148 in the apparatus 20 for selectively mounting the upright attachments 140 to the apparatus 20. The apparatus 20 also includes an interface surface 152 that contacts the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 to provide stability to the apparatus 20.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 11, a fifth construction of the apparatus 20 is illustrated. The organizational structure 36 includes a plurality of receptacles 156 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24. Some of the plurality of receptacles 156 include a clear cover 160 pivotally mounted over the receptacles so that office supplies 24 (e.g., business cards, compact discs, computer disks and cassette tapes) supported within the receptacle 156 can be viewed through the clear cover 160. The apparatus 20 also includes an interface surface 164 that contacts the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 to provide stability to the apparatus 20.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 12, a sixth construction of the apparatus 20 is illustrated. The organizational structure 36 includes a plurality of receptacles 168 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24. One of the plurality of receptacles 168 include a plurality of ribs 172 for organizing and supporting office supplies 24 (e.g., cassette tapes, compact discs and computer disks). Another of the plurality of receptacles 168 includes a clear cover 176 so that office supplies 24 (e.g., business cards, compact discs, cassette tapes and computer disks) supported within the receptacle 168 can be viewed through the clear cover 176. The organizational structure 36 also includes a dispenser 180 for dispensing office supplies 24 (e.g., adhesive tape, adhesive notes and adhesive flags). The apparatus 20 also includes an interface surface 184 that contacts the top surface 28 of the filing cabinet 32 to provide stability to the apparatus 20.

[0026] Although particular constructions of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention. 

1. An apparatus for organizing and supporting office supplies and being positionable on a top surface of a filing cabinet, the apparatus comprising: organizational structure for organizing and supporting the office supplies; and a retaining member extending below the top surface of the filing cabinet to resist movement of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the filing cabinet.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining member extends below the top surface of the filing cabinet on a plurality of sides of the filing cabinet to resist movement of the apparatus in a plurality of directions substantially parallel to the top surface of the filing cabinet.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organizational structure includes a support surface on which the office supplies are positionable, a raised lip to resist the office supplies from sliding off of the support surface and a cord managing aperture operable to permit cords to pass through the apparatus.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organizational structure includes a tray positionable on the top surface of the filing cabinet, the tray including a support surface f or supporting the office supplies, a side projection and a rear projection, the side and rear projections resisting the office supplies from sliding off of the support surface in a plurality of directions.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tray is a first tray, the organizational structure further including a second tray stackable on top of the first tray, the second tray including a support surface for supporting the office supplies, a side projection and a rear projection, the side and rear projections resisting the office supplies from sliding off of the support surface toward sides and a rear of the filing cabinet, the first and second rear projections being engageable with each other to provide stability to the apparatus.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organizational structure includes a first support surface, a second support surface, a first set of uprights and a second set of uprights, the first and second sets of uprights operable in combination with the first support surface and the second support surface to support the office supplies.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second sets of uprights are moveable to accommodate width of the office supplies.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organizational structure includes a plurality of support ribs and a plurality of upright attachments for organizing and supporting office supplies.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organizational structure includes a plurality of receptacles for organizing and supporting office supplies, at least one of the plurality of receptacles including a clear cover.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organizational structure includes a plurality of receptacles for organizing and supporting office supplies and a dispenser for dispensing office supplies, at least one of the plurality of receptacles including a plurality of ribs and at least one of the plurality of receptacles including a clear cover.
 11. An apparatus being positionable on a top surface of a filing cabinet, the apparatus comprising: a retaining member extending below the top surface of the filing cabinet to resist movement of the apparatus in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the filing cabinet; and means for supporting and organizing office supplies.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for supporting and organizing office supplies includes organizational structure. 